Australian women are more likely than men to retire early, citing health concerns, menopause, pay imbalances and caring responsibilities, but many say pay parity and greater flexibility would help them stay in the workforce longer, according to a seven-country survey.
The National Construction Industry Forum has today unanimously endorsed a reform blueprint for the building and construction industry that pushes for the Albanese Government to give the FWC and FWO dispute resolution and enforcement powers.
The WGEA has published a menu of gender equality targets that employers with 500 or more employees can draw from in preparation for next year's lodgement deadline, along with a "workflow" timeline, selection guidance, and list of frequently asked questions and their answers.
Pharmacists will receive a 14.1% pay boost after a much-anticipated ruling by a FWC expert panel that scrutinised gender undervaluation, while employees under four other awards covering health professionals, disability services and daycare will have to wait for increases of up to 35% as questions of funding and new classifications are further investigated.
Australia "remains a global laggard" on work/family benefits and the next federal government should extend paid parental leave to 52 weeks, split carers and personal leave into separate 10-day entitlements, and investigate extending personal/carers and annual leave to casual workers, according to an academic group's report.
Major employer and industry organisations have lodged a last-minute protest with the FWC's president about potential changes to model consultation clauses in agreements, claiming they too closely resemble an ACTU proposal that would substantially curtail management prerogative.
Low uptake of family and domestic violence leave might be explained by a number of "significant, complex" barriers that employers can address, including a lack of manager training on how to help workers to access the entitlement, a new study has found.
A Senate inquiry is calling for guidance on what will qualify as a "reasonable excuse" for failing to comply with a Bill requiring employers with 500 or more workers to set new publicly-tracked gender equality targets that could determine eligibility for government contracts, while the Greens want to lower the threshold to 100 or more employees.
In a bid to further reduce the gender pay gap, the Albanese Government has introduced a Bill that will require employers with 500 or more workers to set new gender equality targets, with their progress publicly available on the WGEA website and compliance required to be eligible for Government contracts.
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended the Albanese Government consider amending the Fair Work Act's right to request flexible work to ensure menopausal women can access it, while it also wants reproductive leave added to the NES and awards.
